For sale is an antique JOHN FINZER & BROTHERS TOBACCO CUTTER from the Five Brothers Tobacco Works, Louisville, Kentucky. The cast iron cutter was manufactured by the Specialty Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, PA. This rare and distinctive general store cast iron Tobacco Plug Cutter is in very good condition. what makes this tobacco cutter stand out from others is the silver handle and silver decorative arch cover. This sale includes a thick cherry wood beveled presentation stand for the cutter. The cutter has some minor condition issues. There is a crack on one side of the silver arch cover (crack does affect the functionality of the cutter). One of the bolts on the arch is not original to the cutter. The cutter’s base is missing one of the mounting tabs. Cutter measures about 17 1/2 inches in length and 4 inches wide. The cutter stand 7 inches tall when the blade is in the closed position. The wood stand measures 21 inches long, by 6 1/2 inches wide, by 6 1/2 1/2 inches thick. This cutter dates to the late 1800s or early 1900s. A superb tobacciana collectible.
The Five Brothers Tobacco Works owned by John Finzer & Brothers is the largest tobacco factory in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1866, the company was established by the five Finzer brothers: John, Benjamin, Frederick, Rudolph, and Nicholas. In 1900, the company’s historic warehouse building was constructed at 419 Finzer Street. The Finzers sold Burley leaf tobacco in sixteen-ounce plugs of navy tobacco. Their other brands included Jolly Tar, Five Brothers, and Pastime. The
business was acquired by American Tobacco Company shortly after the start of the 20th century.
business was acquired by American Tobacco Company shortly after the start of the 20th century.
